Pelargonium Plant Named &#39;KLEPZ17435&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  pelargonium  plant particularly distinguished by white flowers, a mounding habit, and good branching, is disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Switzerland Plant VarietyProtection Application No. 17-3146, as filed on May 24, 2017, the entirecontents are herein incorporated by reference for all the applicationteaches and discloses. A European Community Plant Variety ProtectionApplication was filed on May 30, 2017, Application No. 2017/1441.

Genus and species: Pelargonium zonale.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPZ17435’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofpelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘KLEPZ17435’. ‘KLEPZ17435’ originatedfrom a hand pollination in July 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany between thefemale proprietary pelargonium variety SUNRISE ‘XL Cassandra’, alsoknown as ‘KLEPZ05139’ (unpatented) and the male proprietary pelargoniumvariety SUNRISE ‘Paloma’, also known as ‘KLEPZ10271’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 22,664).

Seeds from the cross-combination were obtained and sown and plants weregrown for evaluation. A single plant was selected in June 2012 andsubsequently named ‘KLEPZ17435’. In September 2012 ‘KLEPZ17435’ wasfirst vegetatively propagated in Stuttgart, Germany by vegetativecuttings from branches. ‘KLEPZ17435’ was found to reproduce true to typein successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttingsin Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. White flowers;    -   2. Mounding growth; and    -   3. Good branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows an overall view of the plant.

The photograph is of an approximately 11 weeks old plant old plant grownin Stuttgart, Germany under glasshouse conditions in June 2016. Thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPZ17435’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on plants grown three monthsafter planting in Stuttgart, Germany under a glass covered greenhouse inApril 2018. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Geraniaceae.        -   Botanical.—Pelargonium zonale.        -   Common.—Pelargonium.        -   Designation.—‘KLEPZ17435’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—SUNRISE ‘XL Cassandra’ (unpatented).        -   Male.—SUNRISE ‘Paloma’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,664).-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bushy and round.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—13.0 cm.        -   Spread.—24.0 cm.        -   Natural flowering season.—April to October.        -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—3 months.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 weeks.        -   Root description.—White, dense, and fine.-   Stems:    -   -   Quantity of stems per plant.—3 to 4.        -   Color.—RHS 143C.        -   Surface texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Stem form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Length.—7.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.2 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Slightly open.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Length.—3.5 cm to 6.5 cm.        -   Width.—5.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS 143B.        -   Zonation.—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 143A.            Strength: Moderate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS            144D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—6 to 8 days.        -   Umbels.—Quantity of umbels per plant: 5 to 7. Length: 11.0            cm to 12.0 cm. Diameter: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Quantity of florets per            umbel: More than 20. Depth: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 4.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Cluster shape.—Round.        -   Cluster size.—Length: 1.3 cm. Width: 2.0 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Moderately pubescent.        -   Bud.—Height: 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Width: 0.4 cm. Shape: Round.            Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Color: RHS 144A.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—6.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.3 cm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color of upper and lower lobes (both surfaces).—RHS NN155C.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—2 to 4.        -   Shape.—Mixed.        -   Apex.—Mixed.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—0.1 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS NN155C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface:            Moderately pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 144B. Lower surface: RHS 144A.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.        -   Surface texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Strength.—Moderate.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144A.        -   Surface texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Strength.—Moderate.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity of stamens per flower: 5 to 7. Anther            length: 0.2 cm. Filament length: 0.4 cm. Filament color: RHS            NN155C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: RHS N172C.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Stigma color: RHS NN155A. Style length:            0.3 cm. Style color: RHS 144D. Ovary arrangement: Central.            Ovary color: RHS 143A. Ovary diameter: 0.2 cm. Ovary length:            0.5 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPZ17435’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Partental Lines Female SUNRISE Male SUNRISECharacteristic ‘KLEPZ17435’ ‘XL Cassandra’ ‘Paloma’ Vigour Medium StrongMedium-compact Peduncle length Medium Long Long

‘KLEPZ17435’ can be compared to the commercial variety PAX ‘Iceberg’,(unpatented). Differences between the two varieties are described inTable 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line Characteristic‘KLEPZ17435’ PAC ‘Iceberg’ Growth type Mounding Uproght, long branchesNumber of florets More than 20 12 to 15 Branching Good Low

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pelargonium plant named‘KLEPZ17435’ as illustrated and described herein.